Trinity Sunday

...a.k.a. a really great sermon on creation(ism)! Readings: Psalm 8, Genesis 1:1-2:4a (sermon text), Acts 2:14a, 22-36, and Matthew 28:16-20.

Finally - a sermon about the very beginning of things, even as the Te Deum speaks about the end.

We ought not to divide the Trinity so distinctively into three functions that we forget His oneness. Each member is involved in each function (creation, justification, and sanctification).

Day 1, light. "And it was good." This contradicts Greek philosophy, which claimed that matter was inherently evil, for God had said of all of Creation, "It is good." Sometimes this Greek idea creeps into Christianity, leading to an incorrect works-righteousness mentality. However, God renews our bodies.

Day 2, the expanse/firmament. During the Flood, this firmament was burst, breaking the protection from UV rays and the separation of the waters.

Day 3, dry land and plants. "And there was evening and there was morning" - does this really speak of six billion-year days? Why do we try to make God's inerrant Word fit into the mold of current science? If we allow any Scripture to be questioned, the rest of it becomes vulnerable.

Day 4, lights of the heavens.

Day 5, birds and sea creatures.

Day 6, humans, whom God ordained to have dominion over the rest of creation. God has placed us as stewards over every created thing.

"Let Us..." is another hint about the Trinity. "Our image..." - unfortunately, we have lost the image of the invisible God. In Christ, though, all mankind may regain this image, i.e. we become holy, for God holds none of our sins against us.

Day 7, God's rest. Let us enter it.

Our congregation also professed the Athanasian Creed today. Tomorrow I will try to post excerpts from one of my favorite books on the subject of the Trinity, among other things. In addition, I have been pestering G.H.F. for some time to author a guest post on a certain article investigating Luther's writings and position on the Genesis account.